We’re giving back to our favorite causes on #GivingTuesday

While Cool Mom Picks is known for finding the coolest stuff out there for our readers to buy, we’ve also got a big soft spot for causes and charities, and generally just making the world a better place. (Bonus points if it also involves shopping for cool stuff.) So it’s no surprise that when we heard about #GivingTuesday, we couldn’t wait to learn more–and we knew our readers would dig it too.

#GivingTuesday is a collaborative effort, spearheaded by the 92nd Street Y and the United Nations Foundation, to promote generosity and giving during the holiday season. We’ve devoted recent posts to great deals from some of our favorite designers and online boutiques, and now I’m excited to devote a post to some of our favorite ways to give back.

We’ve got occasions to give back all year every year, but Thanksgiving this year was definitely a biggie. With the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy still wreaking havoc all over NYC, Long Island, and New Jersey, we highlighted some local organizations that continue to provide aid to those affected, including one of our longtime CMP faves, Baby Buggy.

Another cause near and dear to us is maternal health and well-being. Hey, we’re moms too, so it really hits home to think about how lucky we are to have our health (and access to top-notch medical care when we need it) and self-sufficiency. We’ve supported the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood for years, a global network of maternal health advocates and related organizations campaigning for more resources to save mothers’ lives. Another organization that’s personally important to us is Women for Women International, which provides essential support to women survivors in war-ravaged areas like Rwanda, Afghanistan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

And because we do love shopping, we especially adore opportunities to buy hand-crafted, fair trade items that support women, children, and great causes. Those fashionABLE scarves we raved about last month create productive work opportunities for Ethiopian women and make beautiful gifts too. We’re also big fans of ESPEROS backpacks, which are smartly constructed here in the US, but help pay tuition so that kids in Central America can go to school. (I think a mother’s excitement at sending her kids to school is pretty much universal.)

Want more ideas for giving back on #GivingTuesday? Just browse our archives, where you’re sure to find tons of inspiring ways to make the world a better place. -Julie